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Most people not only relate to lying, they have experienced it, done it, and are well aware of the consequences. However, there are different types of more serious lying, such as compulsive lying, that can cause distress in the lives of the person doing the lying as well as those around them. The question to whether lying is voluntary or involuntary is often attributed to the causes, of which there can be many.
A pathological liar is a person who continuously tell lies. It is not out of maliciousness, and in many instances, the pathological liar does not realize he is lying. When faced with a situation where you must interact with a pathological liar, it is important to know how to effectively handle the person and the situation.
Mythomania, more commonly known as compulsive lying, is a disorder that affects many Americans every year. Characterized by almost constant lying, the person affected by it can be confusing to deal with. Education about compulsive lying, however, is the key to overcoming the misconceptions surrounding this issue and helping those affected to cope and find relief.
Neither pathological lying nor compulsive lying are recognized as distinct mental disorders in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Therefore, there are no universally agreed upon definitions by mental health professionals. A propensity for lying is noted as a symptom of various mental illnesses, such as borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and factitious disorders, in which a person lies about physical symptoms and feigns illness.
Compulsive liars are different from pathological liars or those who only lie periodically. There is often no obvious reason for the lying, and different underlying motivations exist for compulsive liars than for other types of liars. Certain warning signs can help you discern whether you are dealing with a compulsive liar, so read on to learn what these are.
